Have you ever wondered why Saturday and Sunday are known as the weekend?  

Everyone looks forward to the weekend, after all, we all deserve a break after a hectic week. Some like to spend their time working on hobbies, while others like to catch up with family and relax. Regardless, the weekend is a time to rejuvenate and prepare oneself for the upcoming week. However, have you ever wondered why specifically two days out of the entire week, namely Saturday and Sunday, are designated as the short hiatus? And who came up with the idea of going to school or working only five days a week? Read on to find out the history and origin behind the concept of the weekend. 

Where does the concept of the weekend originate from? 
The concept of taking a day off from work has been around for centuries. It actually is rooted in several religions. For example, traditionally, Christians dedicated Sunday for worship, Jews observed Saturday as a day for rest while Muslims took a day off on Friday. It is believed that the concept of the weekend evolved from the Jewish concept of sabbath, which encourages a day to be dedicated to God. As time passed, professional spaces in the Western world started making efforts to accommodate these holidays. 

Why do we have two days off for the weekend? 
According to several religious traditions, only one day in the week is dedicated to God. So, how does this explain the concept of a two-day weekend? This concept emerged during the Industrial Revolution which took place during the 1800s. During this period, large factories started to dominate the economies in the West. Traditional farming was soon replaced by industries as it yielded more money, and produced a larger number of goods at a faster pace. Soon, farmers took up jobs in these factories to keep up with the now rapidly changing nature of the economy, and of their general lives as well. However, having been used to working according to their own schedules on the farm, they were not too pleased with the idea of having to work designated hours in the factories. What added fuel to their flames of discontent was the 7-day work week. They came together and demanded a couple days off of work, and also organised strikes for the same. The factory owners had no option but to give into their demands.  

Ever since then, the concept of the weekend has become a standard idea in the modern world.